Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) comic books 1970-1985, graded by CBCS

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 132 CBCS 9.2

Paper: White

Slab: Significant scuff(s) front or back

Label #22-0F7594C-016

"Omega! The Ultimate Enemy!" Part 2 of 2. Guest-starring Quicksilver and the Inhumans. Script by Roy Thomas. Art by John Buscema (breakdowns) and Joe Sinnott (finishes). Cover by Jim Steranko and Frank Giacoia. In the underground lair of the Alpha Primitives, the awesome Omega has seized Crystal! And now the Human Torch and Quicksilver must join forces to set her free! However, the massive android is powerful indeed! It's going to take all of the Inhumans plus Mr. Fantastic and the Thing to stop the invasion of the Alpha Primitives! Can the FF and the royal family defeat the Alphas and Omega? But even if the heroes win, Johnny Storm is still going to lose. (Notes: The Human Torch changes his costume from blue to red in this issue, and Medusa joins the Fantastic Four (through issue 159). The letters page contains a statement of ownership: average print run 457,990; average paid circulation 245,695.) 32 pages Cover price $0.20.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 158 CBCS 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #21-27946BA-004

"Invasion from the 5th (Count It, 5th!) Dimension" Part 1 of 2. Guest-starring the Inhumans. Script by Roy Thomas. Art by Rich Buckler (breakdowns) and Joe Sinnott (finishes). Cover by Rich Buckler and Al Milgrom. A quiet Friday night at the Baxter Building is disrupted by Quicksilver! And after a brief skirmish with the Human Torch, the mutant speedster tells the FF that Attilan has been overrun by Xemu, the Master of the Fifth Dimension! Xemu plans to destroy the Earth with the Thunder Horn! Will Reed, Ben, Johnny, Medusa, and Pietro get back to the Hidden Land in time? Cameo appearance by the Invisible Girl. Flashback cameos by Iron Man and Thor to recap the events of Fantastic Four 150. (Notes: Xemu previously appeared in Strange Tales 103. The letters page contains a statement of ownership: average print run 428,583; average paid circulation 218,330.) 32 pages Cover price $0.25.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 172 CBCS 8.5

Paper: White

Label #21-2794F13-012

"Cry, The Bedeviled Plant!" Part 2 of 5. Plot by Roy Thomas. Script by Bill Mantlo. Pencils by George Perez. Inks by Joe Sinnott. Cover by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott. After being tricked into boarding Gorr's spaceship, the Fantastic Four reluctantly agree to protect Counter-Earth from the Ravager of Worlds! But the FF may be too late since Galactus' herald, the Destroyer, has already engaged the High Evolutionary on his command asteroid. Nevertheless, the Thing springs into action against the armored herald! Can Ben beat the Destroyer before Galactus becomes aware of Counter-Earth? Flashback cameos by Adam Warlock and the Hulk to recap the events of Incredible Hulk 178. (Notes: Both Galactus and the Destroyer previously appeared in Thor 228. A 30-cent cover price variant exists for this issue.) 32 pages Cover price $0.25.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 174 CBCS 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #21-2794F13-017

"Starquest!" Part 4 of 5. Script by Roy Thomas. Art by John Buscema (breakdowns) and Joe Sinnott (finishes). Cover by Jack Kirby and Frank Giacoia. The situation is becoming desperate on Counter-Earth as both Reed & Ben and Johnny & Gorr have run into major problems on their potential substitute planets with Torgo and the Skrulls, respectively. The Invisible Girl tries to help her teammates, but accidentally transports herself to yet a third planet, which is totally devoid of life! Meanwhile, the countdown to Galactus' destruction of Counter-Earth continues, and the High Evolutionary has only one option left...fight the Ravager of Worlds one-on-one! 32 pages Cover price $0.30.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 180 CBCS 8.5

Paper: White

Newsstand Edition.

Label #21-2795CFD-003

"Bedlam in the Baxter Building" from issue 101 Written by Stan Lee. Pencils by Jack Kirby, Inks by Joe Sinnott. New cover by Kirby/Sinnott was done for the story intended for this issue but bumped to next issue, so it does not match the story inside. This issue contains a statement of ownership--average print run, 431,962; average paid circulation, 199,734. Cover price $0.30.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 183 CBCS 9.0

Paper: White

Newsstand Edition.

Label #21-2795CFD-006

"Battleground: The Baxter Building!" Written by Bill Mantlo. Pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Joe Sinnott. Cover by George Perez and Joe Sinnott. Guest-starring Tigra and Thundra. It's the cataclysmic conclusion to the Brute (aka Reed Richards of Counter-Earth) storyline! After rescuing the free-falling Invisible Girl; the Impossible Man, Tigra, and Thundra (along with a revived Sue) charge into the Baxter Building to stop the Brute! While at the same time; Reed, Ben, Johnny, and Annihilus fly towards the Negative Zone portal to catch the Mad Thinker's monster android! No less than four villains and seven heroes will fight to the finish inside the Baxter Building! Who will win, and perhaps more importantly, who will lose? Notes: Annihilus appears next in Marvel Two-in-One 75. The letters page contains a short essay describing the development of this six-issue storyline. Note: A 35-cent cover price variant exists for this issue. Cover price $0.30.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 184 CBCS 9.0

Paper: White

Newsstand Edition.

Label #21-2795CFD-007

"Aftermath: The Eliminator!" Written by Len Wein. Pencils by George Perez. Inks by Joe Sinnott. Cover by George Perez and Joe Sinnott. The Impossible Man, Thundra, Tigra, and the Fantastic Four battle the Eliminator. The battle against the Brute is finally over, but since Agatha Harkness and Franklin are still missing, the FF have little time for rest. So Reed (without his stretching powers), Sue, and Ben head to Whisper Hill. First, they find a semi-conscious Human Torch and then...the Eliminator! Cameo appearances by the Impossible Man, Thundra, and Tigra. Note: A 35-cent cover price variant exists for this issue. Cover price $0.30.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 187 CBCS 9.0

Paper: White

Newsstand Edition.

Label #21-2795CFD-010

"Trouble Times Two!" Part 1 of 2. Script by Len Wein. Art by George Perez (breakdowns) and Joe Sinnott (finishes). Cover by George Perez and Dave Cockrum. The Fantastic Four return from Colorado and discover the Impossible Man knocked out cold. The Thing begins a room-by-room search of the Baxter Building and discovers the FF's long-time foe...Klaw! But the murderous master of sound is not alone! He has a new partner...the all-powerful Molecule Man! In Reed's electro-lab, the FF and the deadly duo battle for control of the psi-amplifier! Will the FF grasp victory? Or will it be just out of reach? Flashback cameo by the Man-Thing to recap the Molecule Man's previous appearance in Iron Man Annual 3. Last 30¢ issue. (Note: The letters page includes a letter from comics writer Kurt Busiek. A 35-cent cover price variant exists for this issue.) 32 pages Cover price $0.30.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 236 CBCS 9.8

Paper: White

Direct Edition

Label #19-27C178C-055

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"Terror in a Tiny Town" Giant-sized 20th Anniversary issue. Script and Art by John Byrne. Cover by John Byrne and Terry Austin. It's a quiet autumn day in Liddleville, where Reed Richards, Susan Richards, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm are going about their daily routines as a university professor, housewife, auto mechanic, and tavern owner, respectively. They seem to be leading idyllic lives, but what has happened to their super powers? There happens to be another person in Liddleville that the foursome knows very well...Phillip Masters (aka the Puppet Master)! Does the Puppet Master have the scientific genius to strip the FF of their powers and memories? Or could the deposed monarch of Latveria be lurking in the background? It's another classic Fantastic Four vs. Doctor Doom battle! Back up story: "The Challenge of Dr. Doom!" Script by Stan Lee. Breakdowns by Jack Kirby. Inks by Dick Ayers, George Bell (aka George Roussos), Sal Brodsky, John Byrne, Vince Colletta, Frank Giacoia, Pablo Marcos, Al Milgrom, Chic Stone, and Joe Sinnott. The story is a simplified version of the FF's first encounter with Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four (1st series) 5. The Fantastic Four are featured as they were in their Saturday morning cartoon show with Herbie the robot replacing the Human Torch. (Notes: This issue includes a one-page essay that details the history of the FF, the development of this issue's back up story, and a listing of all the characters on the cover. The cover portrays the Avengers, Defenders, X-Men, Daredevil, Impossible Man, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Sub-Mariner, Franklin, Agatha Harkenss, Willie Lumpkin, Stan Lee, and others.) 64 pages Cover price $1.00.